How to Throw a Cheese and Wine Party

Meat and cheese boards have been extremely popular as of late. These beautiful elaborate spreads that leave our mouths watering and begging us to dig in. But you can’t have one of these incredible tables without a glass of wine in hand. If you are going to be living your best cheese life, then wine needs to be a part of the experience.

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How to Match Cheese and Wine

Matching cheese and wine may seem like a daunting task, and it can be at times. The nice part is that there is plenty of room for trial and error but here are a couple of tips on how to start pairing your cheese with your wine.

For starters, your cheese and wine needs to match in intensity levels. If you have a super bold cheese then you want a bold wine to pair with it. If you have a wine from France — pair it with a cheese from France. You can never go wrong with matching cheese and wine from the same place.

How Much Wine Do You Need For a Wine and Cheese Party?

One of the biggest predicaments is to make sure that you have enough wine to go around for your cheese table. If you are just going to be sampling your wine with the different types of cheese then plan for a four ounce pour per guest, per glass. Most guests will usually drink about two to three glasses depending on how long the party lasts for. If you have multiple types of wine then count on everyone having at least one, four ounce glass, of each. If you have a lot of people attending your party then it’s best to have multiple types of wine to spread out.

What Cheese Goes Well With Red Wine?

Considering there’s so many different red wines and so many different types of cheese there are multiple different pairing that can happen with each. The fruitiness of Merlot goes perfectly with the soft, creamy, nuttiness of Brie. Grab a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and take a bite of an aged cheddar cheese. Shiraz and Gouda were practically designed for each other. The berry flavour of Pinot Noir is an incredible compliment to the sweet, salty, and nutty flavour of Gruyère. If you want to go really daring with a salty and pungent Stilton then you need a delicious and sweet bottle of Port.

What Cheese Goes With White Wine?

Three of the best cheeses to go with any white wine is Gouda, Havarti, or a deliciously aged cheddar. If you wan to be wine specific then there a couple of great couplings. A soft, creamy, smooth Brie is perfect with a glass of bubbly champagne. Sip on a glass of Sauvignon Blanc while taste the smooth and crumbly goodness of fresh goat cheese. Grab a sweet glass of Riesling to go with a slice of Gouda and a cracker. If Chardonnay your wine of choice, don’t miss out on the delicacy that Gouda adds to the already delicious oaky flavour.

What Wine Goes Best with Brie Cheese?

When it comes to Brie, the options are endless in how to eat this incredible cheese. Thankfully, the wine options are small while allowing for options. Sauvignon Blanc is one of the best options to pair with Brie. If you are having a baked Brie then a Cabernet or a Merlot is probably a better option. If you are sticking with a room temperature Brie then stick with the white wines including Chardonnay and Rieslings.

Does Red or White Wine Go Better with Cheese?

This is one of the great debates of wine and cheese-pairing. While both are wonderful, white wine is much easier to pair with most cheese choices. Since red wine is bolder and sometimes bitter, it’s harder to find cheese that pairs well with red wines. While they are delicious and for those that love the flavour profile of red wine, keep drinking it. But, overall, white wine is a much better option when paired with cheeses. 

What White Wine Goes With Cheddar Cheese?

When it comes to the delicious cheddar cheese that we all know and love, grab a bottle of oaky Chardonnay and you won’t be disappointed. Since Chardonnay is smoother it will balance out the strength and firmness of the cheddar. If you get a bottle that has some notes of apple and pear in it then prepare yourself for a taste bud explosion. The fruity, oaky notes in a Chardonnay will take away the stinky characteristics of a cheddar cheese you put in its path and leave you wanting to each a whole block of it. 

What Wine Goes With Sparkling Wine?

Soft cheeses are the best options to pair with a glass of sparkling wine. The soft, creaminess of the cheese is balanced with the acidity and carbonation of sparkling wine. Choose a Brie, Camembert, or Muenster to go with your next champagne or sparkling Rosé. 

Why Do Cheese and Wine Go Together?

It’s an awe and a wonder how two things so completely different can be so complimentary. Well, the answer to this is honestly pretty simple. When you are pairing the fattiness of cheese with the sweet acidity of wine there is a perfect balance created between the two extremes. The wine cuts through the fattiness of the cheese and allows the depth of the flavour to rise above the surface. The sensation and mouthfeel that this coupling provides is simply the tannin in the wine subtly allowing the high-fat content in cheese to mellow. While we don’t know who started this delectable match, I think they deserve all of our thanks. 

If you are planning a wine and cheese party don’t forget a cheese board will maximise the presentation.

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If you are interested to know more about pairing broader ranges of food with wine, then read our ultimate food and wine pairing guide